The of Treasures Marlik By EZAT O. NEGAHBAN Directorof the Institute of Archaeology Universityof Tehran In the following pages the remarkable excavator of a remarkable site gives us a tantalizing glimpse of what he found during a rugged campaign of fourteen months' unmterrupted digging in the wilds of northern Iran. In the two and a half years that have elapsed since his excavations ended, Dr. Negahban has prepared a large volume (just about to appear) on the results of the campaign: A Preliminary Report on Marlik Excavation. Gohar Rud Expedition, Rudbar 1961-62 (Joint Publication of Iranian Archaeological Service and Institute of Archaeology, University of Tehran). The text is in both Persian and English; it is lavishly illustrated in color as well as black-andwhite- by far the best value for the money ($5.00) one can find in the archaeologicalfield. In the beautiful green valley of the Gohar Rud near Rudbar in northern Iran, an expedition sponsored by the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Tehran and the Iranian Archaeological Service excavated Marlik Tepe from October 1961 to November 1962. Marlik Tepe, which at first glance appeared to be a natural hill, proved to contain a fabulous treasure, the royal cemetery of a forgotten kingdom three thousand years old. Altogether fifty-three irregularly constructed tombs were excavated. These had been dug into the virgin soil on the crest of the mound and were roughly built, with walls of broken or slab stone which incorporated bedrock wherever possible. Somewhat surprisingly, UNIQUE BRONZE MACE-HEADdecorated with nine humanheadsprojectingfrom the shaft. 109